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But it wasn’t She looked a and could hatever the fuck she wanted as far as I was concerned Hell, I wouldn’t object if she wanted to wear nothing at all—

Wait, no That’d be a very bad idea

And since I was already thinking about a bad idea, I let another take shape

“This is Eirlfriend”

FIVE

VANCE

E her reaction and didn’ther hand out toward Sophia “Nice to meet you”

Sophia stared back in disbelief It was unfathoer haddiscovered, and for a moment she looked completely lost But then her shoulders relaxed, she pressed on a smile and accepted the handshake “Sophia Alby”

As always, I could sense my father’s focus on me, but I pretended to be oblivious If I looked at hi a word, and I didn’t care to see it

When the wo, Sophia tilted her head toward him “This is my boyfriend, Macalister Hale”

Their age gap was nearly thirty years, but Emery didn’t bat an eye She simply accepted the information and offered another handshake “You must be Vance’s father I see the resemblance”

He looked like he expected her to spring a subpoena on hi eyes narrowed on her extended hand, but otherwise he didn’tto take her offered handshake, rather than be offended, she seeht off her Emery moved closer and slipped her hand beneath my arm

I drew in a breath

It was stupid, this ie to flex my bicep and remind her there was muscle beneath the black wool ofto impress her; not to mention, she’d already seen me shirtless And I definitely shouldn’t like the way it felt to have her aton to me We barely knew each other

Sophia attempted to sound casual, but it was stilted “Where’d you two meet?”

Emery’s smile ide “In his bedroom”

My father’s voice was sharp and de “Excuse me?”